Gateshead

Gateshead's population grew in the 10 years leading up to the latest census. At the same time there were changes in relationships, housing tenure and health.

The population passed 200,000

In the 10 years leading up to 2011, the population of Gateshead increased by 4.7%, from about 191,000 to 200,000.

The addition of almost 9,100 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Gateshead was home to, on average, 10 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the North East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the North East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Gateshead

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Gateshead increased by one year, from 39 to 40 years.

This service economy area had a slightly lower average age than the North East and remained slightly older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just over 4,500 people between the ages of 20 and 29 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just over 3,000.

About 13% of people in Gateshead are aged between 20 and 29 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, North East and Gateshead by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More people cohabiting

Gateshead saw England's largest rise in the proportion of households with an unmarried couple.

In 2011, just under one in nine (11%) households in Gateshead had an unmarried couple, compared with 7.6% in 2001. The percentage with just one person decreased from 33% to 33%.

Barnsley saw the next largest rise (from 9.0% to 12%).

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in Gateshead increased by 3.3 percentage points

Percentage of households in Gateshead, the North East and England that had an unmarried couple, March 2001 and March 2011

Fall in social renting

The percentage of Gateshead households that rented through social housing schemes decreased from 34% to 28% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under one in eight (12%) households rented privately, compared with 6.3% in 2001. The percentage of Gateshead households that owned their home increased from 58% to 58%.

The proportion of socially rented homes fell faster here than the figure for the whole of the North East (from 28% in 2001 to 23% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 19% to 18%.

The rate of social housing in Gateshead decreased by 6.2 percentage points

Percentage of households in Gateshead, the North East and England that rented socially, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

Gateshead saw the North East's largest fall in the proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad.

In 2011, just over 1 in 13 (8.0%) in Gateshead said their health was bad or very bad, compared with 13% in 2001. The percentage that perceived their health as good or very good increased from 63% to 76%.

Across the region, County Durham saw the next largest decrease in the proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad (from 13% in 2001 to 8.2% in 2011).

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

Every local authority area across the North East saw a fall in the proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad, as the regional average fell from 12% to 7.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Gateshead decreased by 5.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Gateshead, the North East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of self-employment

The percentage of Gateshead residents that were self-employed increased from 4.5% to 6.0% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in two (54%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 50% in 2001. The percentage of Gateshead residents that were unemployed increased from 4.0% to 5.0%.

The proportion of self-employed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North East (from 5.3% in 2001 to 6.5% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 8.2% to 9.7%.

The rate of self-employment in Gateshead increased by 1.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Gateshead, the North East and England that said they were self-employed, March 2001 and March 2011

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